Hilter’s first action was to ban the 81 members of the Reichstag from taking their seats.He was able to do this because of the powers granted to him by the Law for the Protection of the People and the State. His next step was to intimidate and attack members of the Social Democrats party.Many of its members were attacked or did not turn up on the voting day for the Enabling Law.Other parties also gave into the Nazi pressure.
The end result of this intervention by the Nazis meant that the Enabling Law was passed by 444 votes to 94. More than 100 members of the Reichstag did not turn up to vote.
With the Enabling Law passed the Weimar constitition was destroyed and Hitler had near complete political power.He could make any law he wished without consulting the Reichstag or the president and could even make treaties with other countries on his own authority.For the rest of Hitlers regeme the Reichstag did not meet very often and even then it was only for Hitler to make a speech.In the following November of 1933 “new elections” were held at the Reichstag, and the Nazis were the only party allowed to stand.
The Nazis now brought into line those parts of the political system that were anti-Nazi.Firstly Hitler reorganised the state parliments,so that each now had a Nazi majority.In July 1933 Hitler formally introduced the Law against Formation of New Parties.This stated that there were to be no other parties except the Nazis in Germany and imposed severe punishments on anyone trying to set up a new party.All trades unions were abolished and German workers interests were now protected by the Nazi controlled Labour Front.At this time Hitler began to make sure all positions of authority were filled by Nazi or Nazi supporters.This included places of state,civil servants and places in the legal system.Anyone who would not co-operate with this view was removed from their office.
With Germany within his power, Hitler no longer needed the S.A. He realised that the S.A were a possible threat with many of its members undisiplined and out of his control.The leader of the S.A., Ernst Roehm was in favour of removing big businesses and handing them over to the state.Hitler had won the favour of industrialists and could not afford to lose their support.On the night of June 30th ,1934-“The Night of the Long Knives”-Hitler used detachments of the SS to remove the leaders of the S.A. and settle scores with other enemies.Over 200 people were killed includeing Roehm.In one stroke he had wiped out one threat to his power and gained the support of the other - the army.
